.ODk3.NTIyMA

State of Maine. HEAD QUARTERS Adjutant General's Office. Augusta Sunday morning [inserted] May 26th 1861

My dear General,

Yrs of 22 and 23 inst were not read until after the unwelcome telegram announcing yr resignation, and I felt that a hasty epistle was not what was due you, from me, in view of the very pleasant acquaintance and official intercourse hitherto existing between us. Little as I know about the details of staff duties, I am satisfied of the very good advantage to the State and myself, and all officers connected with the Military Depts in the present unparalleled emergency, in availing ourselves of your superior practical knowledge of the legitimate duties in detail of each and all of us. It was, therefore, to me a very pleasant reflection that you might be induced to continue in a position that might render that knowledge available, + I still trust that our [underlined] relations are such that you will not withhold yr advice and counsel from myself and those connected with us who have in good faith endeavored to render your position endurable.

In regard to clerks at Portland, Merrill was mistaken. The part was I think not half what he stated. I have shown conclusively to all connected with Head Quarters, the very great economical [underlined] necessity [underlined], of putting all the clerks possible to be employed, upon those Rolls, as every [underlined] day's [underlined] continuance of that 1st Regt. upon our hands involved an expense, directly and indirectly, of pay subsistence clothing quarters etc of $1000, the reimbursement of which, by this Genl. [?] would be exceedingly doubtful and yet "one convinced against his will, remains of the same opinion, still". I can perceive in the present imperfect methods